Synonyms of breakthrough

breakthrough

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌthrü 

as in improvement

an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill

Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improvement
• advance
• advancement
• enhancement
• development
• innovation
• discovery
• refinement
• evolution
• increase
• upturn
• upswing
• revival
• amelioration
• strengthening
• maturation
• enlightenment
• growth
• betterment
• find
• renaissance
• education
• boost
• expansion
• quantum leap
• uplift
• windfall
• gestation
• ripening
• elaboration
• civilization
• melioration
• upgrade
• perfection
• heightening
• edification
• uptrend
• renascence
• invention

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• setback
• breakdown
• collapse
• crash
• reduction
• impediment
• hindrance
• decrease
• failing
• decline
• deterioration
• stumbling block
• worsening
• lapse
• weakening
• decay
• degeneration
• sinking
• impairment
• descent
• drawback
• shortcoming
• slowing
• lessening
• decadence
• downgrade
• detriment
• glitch
• declension
• diminishment
• disablement
• flagging
• languishment
• ebbing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breakthrough

Oral PrEP is still the backbone of prevention While lenacapavir is the new shiny breakthrough, oral PrEP remains the mainstay of prevention. — Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026

Travis Barker joined Blink-182 in 1998, a year after their breakthrough album Dude Ranch and just before the release of 1999’s Enema of the State, which, by 2001, had gone five times platinum. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026

In Northern Ireland, for example, years of backchannel talks paved the way for later breakthroughs. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026

Citing a source who holds a senior position in the Iranian government, Reuters reported on Wednesday that no breakthroughs had been made in efforts to revitalize an interim peace deal reached in June. — Chloe Taylor,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026